'Francis effect' boosts market for religious books

Published: 15 May 2014

The 'Francis effect' has invigorated Catholic publishing houses, and religious books are becoming less of a niche market, publishers at a recent international book fair in Italy have explained, reports the Catholic News Agency.

This year’s Turin International Book Fair, held from May 8-12, was the first instance in which the Holy See had been invited as a special guest to the event; its publisher set up a booth featuring a large St Peter’s dome made of books.

'The invitation of the Holy See as special guest at the Turin book fair should mark the beginning of a new approach to religious publishing in the world,' Fr Giuseppe Costa, director of Libreria Editrice Vaticana, the Holy See’s publisher, told CNA last week.

Widespread interest in Pope Francis can help relaunch Catholic publishing; the boost from Pope Francis has built upon the success of the works of Benedict XVI, which began to spread in secular environments.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, said May 10 at the book fair that Pope Francis’ 'communicative strength is not the result of a "communications strategy." The source of his communication’s effectiveness lies in his evangelical authority.'

Photo: Libreria Editrice Vaticana's booth at the Turin International Book Fair, May 8-12